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August 05, 2009

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The Democratic National Committee and the conservative Club for Growth both announced Tuesday that they plan to turn up the volume on health care reform over the break, largely in districts represented by vulnerable Democrats. The two groups have lined up on opposite sides of the ring — and it looks like it’ll be bruising for the members in the middle.

The DNC has purchased radio advertising in 23 districts, thanking members of Congress for supporting health care reform or President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus package. The spots “will begin as early as [Wednesday] and run into next week,” according to a DNC release. Nineteen representatives are getting thank-yous on healthcare — four for supporting the stimulus.

The Club for Growth's $1.2 million buy hits seven senators and nine representatives in purple districts and states. It’s a 30-second ad, linking Obama’s health care proposal to the British health care system, where, the ad claims, six months of life are valued at $22,750. The club bought broadcast television time in Arkansas, Colorado, Nevada and North Dakota — political battlegrounds with relatively cheap media markets (it also bought cable in Colorado and Nevada).

The Club for Growth spot shows a senior citizen lying in a hospital bed and closes with a message urging viewers to “Tell your Members of Congress to oppose Government Run Health Care.” Former Rep. Chris Chocola (R-Ind.), the club’s president, said seniors have a huge stake in the debate but added that the CFG spot was not exclusively aimed at voters over 65.

“We’re targeting all voters. The reality is most health care issues involve seniors,” Chocola said. “It’s just a reality that they are probably the largest consumers of health care.”

The DNC spots praise members for standing up to special interests, whose lobbyists “are fighting tooth and nail to stop reform and protect the status quo,” the ad’s voice-over reads.

Reps. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.) and Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.) are getting both ads — and Sen. Harry Reid is getting his own version of the Club for Growth ad, set to be released Thursday.